V.C'S AWARDED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11482, 2 September 1915, Page 6

V.C'S AWARDED.

By Telegraph—-Pres* Association—Copyright, j (Received September 2, 1.25 p.m.) j LONDON, September 1. j Victoria Crosses have been awarded j to the following:— I Major Wheeler, of the Seventh ; Hariana Lancers, who twice led h's squadrou in a lance, charge on the Turkish positions at Shaiba, and was ! killed on ApriJ .13, while far ahead of I his iu on. riding single-handed" straight for the Turkish standards. Captain O'Sullivan, of the First Inniskilling Fusiliers. South-west of Krithia, du the night of July 1, when was essential that a portion of a lost trench should be regained, Captain O'Sullivan, although not belonging to the troops at that point, voluntered to lead bomb throwers, and in order to throw bombs with greater effect, cot up on a parapet, where he was completely expo ed to the Turkish fire. He was finally wounded, but his inspiring j example enabled the party to recapture the trench. Sergeant Somers,' of the Ist Inniskilling Fusil'ers. On the night of July 1, in'.the,'southern zone of -Gallipoli, when some British troops had retired from a' sap '.owing to bombing, Sergeant Sowers remained- alone until a party brought up bombs. Sergeant Somers then' climbed -up the Turkish trench ■ and bombed the Turks with great effect. Later he advanced in the open and held hack the onemy, throwing bombs on their flauk, until a barricade had been established. Throughout he ran to and from the trenches, ohtailll ing fresh supplies of bombs, displaying great gallantry and coolness, and being largely instrumental in recapturing portion of our lost trench. Lieutenant Rochfort, of the Ist Scots Guards, for bravery on August 3, be--1 twecn Cambria and La Bassee. A German trench mortar bomb landed near a working party, and Lieutenant Rochfort rni'iht easily liavo stepped round the corner with perfect safety. Instead he shouted <" Men, look out " ran to the bomb, and hurled it over the parapet, where it exploded imnie- ) diately. His splendid combination of presence of mind and courago saved many lives. Second Lieutenant James, of the 4th Worcester shires. On July 25, in the southern zone of Gallipoli, when portion of a reg nieut was checked owing to all its officers being killed or wounded, Lieutenant James, who belonged to a neighbouring unit, gathered a body ' of men, led them forward under a * heavy shell and rifle fire, and then re--1 turned and organised a second party, putting fresh life into the attack. 0 Lieutenant James, on July 3, headed a bomb-throwers' attack against a Turkish communication trench. When nearly all wounded, ho remained alone and kept 1 back tho enemy single-hand-ed until a-barrier was built behind him and the trench secured. Throughout he was exposed to a murderous fire.